Not only is Sue Miller one of our most deft and satisfying writers of literary fiction, she’s also on a par as a performer with some of the best narrators of audiobooks we have. Her voice is lovely, calm, and supple, and her tone matches the smooth style of the writing in a way that makes for a wonderfully integrated listening experience, completely free of distracting questions of whether the performer has understood what the author intended. The story, of a small New England town on edge because of a string of arsons, is more thoughtful than dramatic, and feels utterly real. Miller writes women particularly well, and it’s fascinating to know how Frankie Rowley’s inner life sounds to Miller herself. A beautiful performance.
Pub Date: June 24, 2014
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307876027
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Benet Archdale and housemaid Carol Stratford are two young, single parents who have no reason to know each other. They become tangled in a nightmarish spiral of kidnap, fraud, family violence and death. Ruth Rendell creates psychological suspense in thrillers that are compulsively readable or, in this case, listenable. British actress Imelda Staunton's reading is perfectly paced, and the characters are well defined. You'll have a hard time turning it off.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emerson and Peabody are at it again! Uncovering antiquities takes a back-seat as the romantic archaeologists track down the master criminal who is stealing Egypt's ancient treasures. With the help of their precocious son, Ramses, the intrepid pair unravel this mystery in crowded bazaars, desert camps and the heart of the Black Pyramid. Barbara Rosenblat's reading fully measures up to the tale. She is a master of timing and nuance. Rosenblat's power for character interpretation has grown with each book in this amusing series. This is the best one yet.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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